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Oct 2024
Extinction Rebellion to protest against Harrogate Spring Water
Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion are set to stage a protest against Harrogate Spring Water’s controversial expansion plans this week.
Harrogate Spring Water, owned by French multinational Danone, plans to fell 450 trees at its Harlow Moor Road headquarters to create space to expand its bottling plant.
The proposals are contentious despite the company pledging two tree-planting exercises to mitigate the loss of the under-threat trees.
A campaign led by TV star Julia Bradbury saw the plans rejected by Harrogate Borough Council in 2021. New plans are due to be assessed by North Yorkshire Council soon.
Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion Harrogate and Ilkley, and Leeds will dress in red on Sunday (October 6) as part of the campaign against the proposals.
They say the red 'symbolises the common blood we share with all species'.
The activists will walk through Harrogate town centre and Valley Gardens and on to Rotary Wood, which is alongside the entrance to Harrogate Spring Water.
They will carry a banner and hand out leaflets raising awareness of the planning application.
The protest will take place from 11am-1pm.
Plans for the expanded site.
Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has previously said he has "significant concerns related to biodiversity loss, tree replacement timelines, and issues regarding traffic and access".
Arnold Warneken, the Green councillor for Ouseburn on North Yorkshire Council, said:
There is absolutely no justification other than corporate greed for the expansion into the heart of a living community. We are seeing a huge change in the world's approach to big polluters like Danone, a change that ultimately forces them to look at a better way of utilising their skills and resources, a way that makes them part of the solution not the problem.
A spokesperson for Harrogate Spring Water said:
At the heart of our expansion plans is a new community woodland which will see new trees planted on 2 acres of land immediately next to Rotary Wood - to the rear of the existing Harrogate Spring Water operations - which will be fully accessible to the public. We have also committed to planting additional trees on the current Rotary Wood site, and elsewhere in Harrogate.
Our tree replacement programme will result in more trees being planted than will be removed and will be guided by expert advice to ensure the woodland will flourish.
“It is very important for us that, as we look to grow the company, create new job opportunities and invest further in the local and regional economy, we take time to listen to what the community has to say. Our latest plans demonstrate this commitment.
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